Summer Composers Seminar

In collaboration with The NYU Tonmeister Summer Program

Dr. Dinu Ghezzo, Director, NYU Composition Program, ddg1@nyu.edu

E85.2028 • Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Separate application. Ghezzo. 30 hours: 3 points.

Intensive survey of compositional techniques and styles in current use in the U.S. and Europe. Discussion of important new works in electronic, interactive, symphonic, and chamber music, with instruction in structural analysis. Topics addressed range from the neo-romantic movement to minimalist, serial, aleatoric, mixed media, and all other contemporary music styles. This course provides the unique advantage of permitting students the opportunity to test theoretical subjects covered in a practical realization in NYU’s companion course, the Composer’s Concert Seminar.

In this unique six-week offering for undergraduate and graduate student composers, students write a new work under one of the following categories: an instrumental composition for up to seven players; an interactive acoustic and computer piece; a multimedia project (using dance, acting, and image, as well as electronic media); a mostly MIDI and electronics work; or a music theatre composition.

The work is rehearsed, performed, and recorded by a professional ensemble (tentatively consisting of flute, clarinet, piano, trumpet, trombone, violin, violoncello, double bass, and percussion). Rehearsals and the final concert are recorded and mixed to CD in the final week by a team of professors and students from the Temmer Tonmeister Program.

Tonmeister is one of the most advanced approaches in recording in which musician/engineers work substantially with composers on all aspects of the recording of their compositions. An additional concert may be offered after the final recording and music production, involving multimedia, dance, or interactive enhancements or requiring special stage preparation.

In addition to writing, correcting, rehearsing, performing, recording, and editing their personal compositions, students benefit from visiting composers, performers, choreographers, stage directors, conductors, and recording engineers in master classes, lectures, or recitals, as well as class discussions on topics related to students’ writing projects.

Plan of Class Activity: Week One: General introduction of the course, planning specific activities and class discussions, and outlining a composition. Weeks Two and Three: Lectures, master classes, and demonstrations, as well as guidance and advisement related to the progress of writing your new work. Week Four: Intensive rehearsals with performers and Temmer Tonmeister recording engineers and continuous assessment of your new work. Week Five: Dress rehearsal and final music production. Both will be recorded. Week Six: Mixing and editing, CD production. Additional performance of multimedia, dance, and other projects, using tapes of the previous week’s recording.

There is a $250 fee required for the professional production and multiplication of the final CD. Each student will have a short biography and piece description in the jacket of the jewel box. Each will receive 3 CDs containing the entire class music production.

Students are encouraged to take additional summer classes, as follows:

Private Composition
E85.1021.004 • Lessons with specialized faculty.

Advanced Instrumental Conducting
E85.2096 • Ghezzo.

Intensive training in contemporary techniques of conducting. As part of this class, students are prepared to conduct their own pieces for the final concert and the CD recording.

Application process: Admission is by application. For complete information on the program, please e-mail to ddg1@nyu.edu.

Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - 35 W. 4th Street, Suite 777 - New York, NY 10012 - (212) 998-5424